I cry you mercy! Miseremini mei! pecavi! mea culpa! Having
made humble penitence I will answer your letter orderly, beginning at the beginning
and leaving off at the end.

I think the Italian ministry will do right about the duties hereafter. Can't promise
restitution for the past. Circulars arrived only a few days ago & are all
distributed

The box of pub. doc for me is, as I am advised from New York, on the way, but will
hardly arrive until I am off for Paris to see Dr Sims. We
shall go on the 1' of July [if the?] fear of the small-pox doth not deter us.

We envy you your summer excursion, though the yachting -------------------------------- Page -------------------------------- part, if you are to
sail anywhere where the water would be "over my head" is less tempting. At any rate,
if you catch any good fish, I would help you eat them, & thereby strengthen
& reinforce the brains of us all with phosphorus & other needful
material.

There hath been the devil to pay among the celestials. Scientific Schiff hath pitched into scientific Parlatore, and
scientific Eccher (Italian for hecker) hath pitched into Schiff. I am afraid it will
end in driving the Goths out of Italy. There were Moleschott,
two Schiffs, Hecker, Herzen, & I know not how many other Dutchmen, all
outlandishmen, & unbelievers at that, invited by Catholic Italy to be the
teachers of their youth. Well, Herzen rudely attacks Monsigneur Lambruschini, no scientific indeed, but a gentleman, & Schiff
most [...]ably attacked Parletore at a [...] of conversation, without the slightest
previous hint of dissatisfaction, & all Florence is thrown into a hubbub by
-------------------------------- Page -------------------------------- [The following written vertically.] the ill-breeding of these foreigners.
I like Schiff very much, but I think, in this matter, that he has behaved in the
most unjustifiable way. This of course sub rosa. There is much more
scientific life & activity in Italy than the Dutch are willing to admit, but
the general [poverty?] of the government and people is a great drawback in these
days, when science is hardly to be had gratis.